Qld jewellery chain store CFO jailed

The thefts between 2007 and 2009 caused the company to suffer significant cash flow problems that led to seven stores closing, the court was told.
AFR

More than 60 people lost their jobs when a former jewellery chain store CFO stole $1.4 million from her employer so she could support her ex-lover’s addictions.

Anna Rajkowski, 33, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to two counts of defrauding Kings Jewellers when she was the company’s chief financial officer.

Prosecutor Ken Spinaze told the court on Tuesday Rajkowski stole the money between 2007 and 2009, causing the company to suffer significant cash flow problems that led to seven stores closing and more than 60 employees being sacked.

The court heard Rajkowski was manipulated into stealing the money by her former lover, Luisa Touli, whom she started dating when she was just 15.

Touli threatened to take her own life if Rajkowski did not commit the fraud.

Rajkowski, who was described in court as a “weak person", acceded to the request in order to avoid confrontation.

The court heard Touli had bullied Rajkowski for many years and continued to do so even after she took a new lover.

The trio lived in the same Brisbane home for at least a year in a messy love triangle during which Rajkowski remained confused about the status of her relationship with Touli.